Automatic tape dispenser and cutter



Oct. 13, 1942. l 'H'. L. FrrcH 2,298,360

AUTOMATIC TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER Filed .May 11. 1939 Patented oct.13, 19,42',

AUTOMATIC TAPE DISPENSER AND CUTTER Harold L. Fitch, Rochester, N. Y.,assigner to Eastman Kodak Com pany, Rochester, Y., a

corporation of New Jersey n lApplication May 11, 1939,v Serial No.273,089

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tape dispenser, and particularly toan automatic tape dispenser which is' adapted to dispense a stickysurface tape from a roll, cut the same into short lengths, and deliversaid short lengths to the operator.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tape dispenser andcutter which is adapted to pull a sticky surfacetape, such as surgicaltape or the like. from a supply roll, and deliver the same cut intoshort predetermined lengths. Another object of the invention is toprovide a tape dispenser of the type referred to in which the adhesiveof the tape is utilized to support the same during the vcuttingoperation and during delivery. A further object is to provide adispenser of the type described wherein the tape is properly fed to thecutting knife, and the knife is actuated at the proper time through the|actuation of a single operating member. And yet another object is toprovide a tape dispenser of the type described in which the knife isspringv actuated and is placed under tension by the tape feeding member.Another object is to provide a tape dispenser which can be actuated byone hand, thus leaving the Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dispenser andcutter shown in Fig. 1, and with the top removed,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the dispenserand cutter exclusive of the supplyrroll of tape and y its mounting,

other hand for the removal of the cut tape from the dispenser, wherebythe speed at which the device can be actuated is hunted only by thespeed with which the operator can remove the cut tape therefrom. lAndyet another object is to provide a tape dispenser in which the tape' issupported and held at spaced intervals on pins by the adhesive thereon,and in which the knife is adapted to cut4 the tape between the points ofsupport whereby the cut strips remain on said pins after being cut landare delivered to the operator who picks them oiI of said pins. And stillanother object is to provide a tape dispenser and cutter of the typedescribed which is simple in construction, efficient and rapid inoperation, as well as cheap to manufacture.

The novel features that I consider characteristic rof myv invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the following description of a specificembodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing inwhlch,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the dispenser, with one side of the casingremoved, and show- Y ings. preferred embodiment Vof the present invention in its inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the dispenser and cutter, and

Fig. 5 is a detail of the tape carrying member and the knife, andshowing the tape carrying member part way through a tape advancing step.

Like`reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout thedrawing.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1-5, wherein 'apreferred embodiy ment of the invention is shown, the automatic tapedispenser and cutter comprises an elonf gated base I0 to one end ofwhich a pair of slotted standards II maybe bolted' to rotatably supporta supply roll I2 of sticky surface tape T. Throughout the specificationand claims, when a tape is mentioned, a tape having a sticky surface,such as surgical tape. or a tape having a dry adhesive rendered stickyby the applica.- tion of al liquid thereto prior to being fed into thedispenser and cutter, will be referred to.' A pair of plates I3 and I4extending vertically from either sideof the base I0 serves to sup--vport, as well as to enclose, the mechanism making up the device, andwhile these Vplan could be integral with the base so that the threeparts would form the support for the several parts of the device, to aidin the assembly of the device,

the plates I3 and I4 are shown detachably connected to the base II) bybolts I5. The top of the dispenser may be Venclosed by a' cover I6overhanging the side plates I3 and I4 and attached thereto by bolts Il.The space between the ends of the plates I3 and I4 is partially closedby plates I8 and I8, but an opening is lei't at the lower rear end ofthe plates as shown at 20 to permit the tape T to enter the dispenser,and an opening is left at the front ends of the plates to permit thetape feeding member to-operate as will be hereinafter described. Thelower front'corner otthe plate Il is cut away, as indishaft 2l' theendsof which extend through and.

cated at 2|, to permit the operator to remove the cut strips from thetape carrying member. as will be hereinafer fully described.

Rotatably mounted between the plates Il and Il is a disk 2l, said diskbeing attached to a are rotatable in plates I3 and I4. Extending axiallyfrom` one face of the disk 25 are av plurality of pins 26 adapted to beengaged by the sticky surface of the tape T, and these pins are spacedfrom one another circumferentially of the disk 25, as shown, so that thetape T is supported only at spaced intervals. In order to provide a moresatisfactory affinity between the tape T and the pins 26 the surface ofsaid pins, if desired, may be roughened by a line knurling, althoughsuch a surface is not illustrated in the drawing. The disk is providedwith a plurality of slots.2'| extending from the periphery of the diskand radially thereof so A that the ends of said slots are below the pathof the tape T when said tape is supported by the pins 26. These slots 21are spaced circumferentially of the disk from one another so that oneslot is located intermediate each pair of adjacent pins 26.

From the other side of the disk 25 a plurality of studs 28 extend, andthese studs are spaced circumferentially around the disk from oneanother to constitute a part of the disk advancing mechanism by means ofwhich the tape T is advanced step by step as will be hereinafter fullydescribed. As shown, the studs 26 are integral with the pins 26 andconsequently in mechanical wear due to impact is overcome. It

will be readily understood that the protuberance 31 is so formed as toallow the pawl 33 to drop into engagement with the succeeding stud 28when the pawl and the member 29 are moved by the spring 22 to theirraised or inoperative `disk 25, is a lever 4I.

axial alignment therewith, however, it is pointed out that the studs 28may be separate Afrom the pins 26 and may be spaced circumferentially ofthe disk from one another to'suit' the tape feeding requirementsdesired. The disk advancing member 29 is pivoted at one end to a stubshaft 30"extending transversely of the plates I3 and I4 while its otherend extends through an open ing in the front wall I9 of the dispenserand is provided with a nger piece 3l to which downward pressure can beapplied by one finger to actuate said member. This advancing member isnormally moved to its raised, or inoperative,

position by a spring 22 one end of which is connected to the member 29at 23 while the other end is connected to a pin 24 extending between theplates i3 and I4.

vPivoted to the disk advancing members 29 at 32 is a ratchet-type pawl33 which is normally moved toward the path of the tape engaging `pins 26by a spring. 34.` Referring to Figs. l

pawl 33 will be pulled downward therewith and will serve to advance thedisk one step to pull a given amount of tape from the supply roll andadvance it beneath the knife hereinafter described. The pawl 33 isprovided with the customary cam face 36 which would, when the member 29and the pawl 33 are returned to a raised position as to advance thedisk, engage the stud 28 succeeding that one previously engaged, wherebythe pawl would be cammed over said succeeding pin to operatively engagethe top thereof in a known manner to be in readiness for the nextadvance of the disk. However, to do away with the impact which wouldoccur between the cam face 36 and the stud on the return stroke of thepawl, said pawl is provided on its inside edge with a protuberance 31which is adapted to engage the succeeding studs on the disk and therebycam the pawl over the succeeding studs. It will be readily understoodthat the inside edge of the pawl 'including the protuberance will,during the return stroke of 76 positions. p

The tape T supported. on the ns 26 is adapted to be cut by a knifemounted to reciprocate substantially transversely of the path cf thetape as will be now described. Pivotally mounted at one vend on asub-shaft 40 extending between plates I3 and I4, and to one side of theTo the free end of the lever 4l is fastened by bolts 42 the knifesupporting member 43. The knife supporting member is arranged Vto extendtransversely of the disk 26 whereby it will engage the periphery of saiddisk when moved toward the cutting position if a slot.21 is not locatedin the path ofthe same. A' knife 44 is detachably mounted on thesupporting member 43 in -any suitable manner, herein showin as beinggripped between the supporting member and a plate 45 connected theretoby bolts 46, and is located on the end of said supporting memberextending to the side ofthe disk 25 on which the pins 26 are mounted,wherebythe knife is adapted to move down 'across the tape T but will notengage the disk 25- at any point.

The knife supporting member 43 is connected to the disk advancing member29 by a spri'ng 41 one end of which is connected to a pinv 48 on theknife supporting member, and thel other end of which 1s connected to apin 49. on the disk advancing member 29. The knife lever 4I is connectedto the disk advancing member 29 by a lever 5I one end of which ispivoted to a pin 52 on the member 29, and the other end of which isprovided with a slot 53 engaging a headed stud 54 extending transverselyof the lever. The lever 5| through its connection with the knife lever4| serves to positively engage and move the knife vto its raisedvposition when the disk advancing member 29 is moved by a spring 22 toits raised position, and it holds said knife in its raised positionduring the first part of the downward movement of the disk advancingmember as will now be clearly pointed out. When .the disk advancingmember 29 is moved from its raised position to advance the disk 25, thespring 41 will tend to pull the knife 44 into its cutting position. Thelever 5I, however, due to the fact that it is located nearer the pivotpoint of the mem-ber 2 9 than is pawl 33 will positively hold the knifein a raised position until the slot 21 under the knife supporting member43 at the time is removed from the path thereof. AUpon further movementof the member 29 the lever 5| will release the'knife lever 4I, but sincethe slot 21 has been moved in the path of the knife supporting member43, said member will engage and ride on the pe riphery of the-disk to beconstantly held in a raised position. This condition is illustrated inFig. 5 where the relative positions of the knife and disk are shown whenthe disk advancing member 29 is approximately one-half depressed attaccoing further depressed whereby ,the spring 41 is all equal in length, itwill bere'adily understood that the extent of the advance of the diskcan being tensioned, and whenthe member 2l has `rbeen fully depressed toadvance the disk 2l enough to bring a succeeding slot 21 in to the pathof the knife supporting member, the knife will be snapped by saidvspring with considerable force across the path of the tape to severthe. saine. This occurrence will be repeated every time the diskadvancing mechanism is released and actuated so that the tape will becut into strips the length of which will be equal to the space betweenthe slots 21 in the disk. Inasmuch as the tape is cut on both sides ofeach pin 28, see Fig. l, the severed 'section will remain on the pins 2ldue to the' adhesive thereon and will be carried during the advance ofthe disk to the opening 2l in the side plate i2 where. the operator canlift it from said disk. The tape T is fed fromthe supply roll l2,through the opening in the rear endof the dispenser, and under a guideroller Il which is rotatably mounted on the sub-shaft 3l. said guideroller directing the tape substantially tangentially onto the pins 26 asthe disk 2i is rotated. In threading the dispenser the end of the tapewill be stuck to the ilrst one or two pins 26 after which the adhesivetension between the pins and the tape will be suillcient to pull thetape from the roll i2. It will be readily understood that the tape ispicked up by succeeding pins 22 in a manner to make that portion of thetape between any two pins reasonably taut, and since the knife strikesthese taut sections with a considerable force, the tape is readilysevered without pulling the sections from the pins 2l. A spring memberBI extending from the side plate il against the periphery of 'the pins2i may be provided lto press the tape against the pin lust ahead of theknife, and a roller I2 may be rotatably mounted on the pin 24 to haverolling engagement with the pins 28 when` the disk is advanced, and forengaging and pressing the severed sections onto the pins' after theyhave been cut. Thus the spring member" and the roller I2 merely serve vto insure a firm adhesive contact-between the` tape and the pins both inadvance of, and after` passing, the knife so as'tolnsurel against vthetape being pulledfrom engagement with said pins.

To prevent accidental backlashing of the feeding disk 25, a stop memberil is pivoted to a standard Il on the base Il to engage the stud besuitably altered by changing the length of throw of they disk advancingmember and the relative location of the studs 2l on the disk 2l. Thisdispenser and cutter provides a device whereby a continuous stickysurface tape can be readily, and rapidly, cut intoshortlengths anddelivered to thel operator without the operator becoming besmeared orlstuck by the knife in the operation. The device is designed to use theadhesive properties of the tape for feeding and supporting the sametoand from the knife, and by making use of 'the adhesive Properties ofthe tape the device is rendered simple in construction and efficient inoperation.

Although I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention therefore is not to be limited except in so faras is necessitated by the prior vart and by the terms of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:` A

1. A tapedispenser for a sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a shearing member, meansfork pulling said ltape in strip form from said roll and adapted .tocarry the same 'past said shearing member where it is 'cut into shortleft, viewing Fig. 1, and when the stud passes the inga given step ofadvance, and which steps are lengths, and adapted toldeliver said shortlengths to a position for removal from the dispenser, said meansincluding spaced members movable in spaced relationship and means fordirecting said tape toward said member so that the sticky surfacethereof is pressed into adhesive contact with said spaced members to besupported thereby at spaced intervals longitudinally thereof, wherebyeach member supports a severed length of said tape due to theadhesionbetween the two.

2. A tape dispenserfor a sticky surfaced' tape -comprising, means forrotatably supporting a suplengths to a position for removal from saiddis' penser, said means including va movable feed.

ing plate, spaced members on said plate, means for directing said tapetoward said members so that the sticky surface thereof is pressed intoadhesive contact with the same, and which adhesive contact connects thetape to said members, means for intermittently advancing said feedingplate whereby the tape supported by said spaced Amembers is movedhorizontally past said shearing member, and `means for intermittentlyoperating said shearing member whereby the same is adapted to cut thetape between said spaced members, ysaid shearing member operating meansassociated with said advancing means for said feeding plate, whereby itis automatically operated in timed relation with operation of saidfeeding plate advancing means.

3. A tape dispenser forI a sticky surfaced tape comprising means forrotatably supporting a-supply roll of tape, a spring actuated shearingmember, a tapeA carrying member for pulling said tape in strip formfromsaid roll by virtue of an adhesive contact between the two, andadapted to carryv the same substantiallyv transverselyy of the cuttingpath of said shearing member, means for directing said tape intoadhesive contact with said carrying member to thereby connect said tapeto said member, means for intermittently advancing said tape carryingmember and cocking said shearing member, and means for holding saidshearing member in a cocked position until said tape carrying means hasadvanced a given amount whereupon said shearing member is released tosever said tape.

4. A tape dispenser for a sticky surfaced tape comprising means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a spring actuated shearingmember, a tape carrying member for pulling said tape in strip form fromsaid roll by virtue of anadhesive contact between the two, andV adaptedto carry the same substantially transversely of the cutting path of saidshearing member, means for directing said tape into adhesive contactwith said carrying member to thereby connect said tape to said member,means for intermittently advancing said tape carrying member and cockingsaid shearing member, and means forming a part of said tape carryingmember adapted to engage and hold said shearing member in a cockedposition until said tape carrying means has advanced a given amount,whereupon said shearing member is released to sever said tape.

, 5. A tape dispenser for a sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a movable shearing member,

means for pulling said tape in a strip from said roll and adapted ltocarry said tape in strip form past said shearing member where itis cutinto short lengths. and adapted to deliver said short lengths to aposition for removal from said dispenser, said means including arotatable feeding disc, pins extending axially froinone face of saiddisc adjacent the periphery thereof and spaced from one anothercircumferentially of said disc, means for directing the tape intoadhesive contact with said pins whereby said tape is adapted to beadhesively connected to the feeding disc at spaced intervals, means forrotating said disc intermittently to feed said tape beneath saidshearing member, and adapted to stop said disc-with that portion of saidtape extending between two pins beneath said shearing member, and meansfor actuating said shearing member to cut said tape. said meansincluding said disc rotating means whereby said shearing member isadapted to be actuated each time said disc comes to rest after advancingsaid tape.

6. A tape dispenser for sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a pivoted knife, means forpulling said tape in a strip from said roll, and adapted to carry saidtape in strip form past said knife where itis cut into short lengths,and adapted to deliver said short lengths to a position for removal fromsaid dispenser, said means including a .rotatable feeding discpositioned below said knife, a plurality of pins extending axially fromone face of said disc adjacent the periphery thereof and spaced from oneanother circumferentially of said disc, means for directing the tapeinto adhesive contactwith said pins whereby said tape is adapted to beadhesively connected to the feeding disc at spaced intervals, aplurality of studs extending axially from the other faceof said discandspaced from one another circumferentially of said disc, means forrotating said disc step by step to feed said tape beneath said knife,and adapted to advance said disc whereby a portion ofsaid tape extendingbevpulling said tape in av strip from said roll, and

adapted to carry said tape in strip -form past said -knife where it iscut into short lengths, and

adapted to deliver said short lengths to a position forremoval from saiddispenser, said means including` a rotatable feeding disc positionedbelow said knife, a plurality of pins extending ax'- ially through andfrom each side of said disc adjacent the periphery thereof and spacedfrom one another circumferentially of said disc, means for directing thetape from said roll into adhesive contact with the ends of said pinsextending to one side of said disc whereby said tape is adapted to .beadheslvely connected thereto at spaced inter-vals, aratchet-type pawladapted to engage, one after the other, the ends ofthe pins extending tothe other side of said disc, means for reciprocating said pawl toadvance said Vdisc whereby a' portion of said tape extending between twoadjacent pins is adapted to be stopped. in the path of said knife, andmeans actuated by said pawl reciprocating means for moving said knife toits operative position and placing it under tension in said operativeposition, and means for holding said knife in -its operative positionuntil said disc has been advanced -by said pawl after which said knifeis releasedv to cut said tape.

8. A tape dispenser for sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forsupporting a supply of tape. a tape carrying member having a brokensurface, means for directing the tape from said roll into adhesivecontact with said broken surface to thereby connect said tape to saidmember by adhesive between-the two and whereby said tape is engaged andsupported at spaced intervals, a knife member reciprocally mountedadjacent said carrying member and adapted to move across the plane ofthe supporting surface of said carrying member and into the broken areasthereof to cut the tape supported on said carrying member, means foradvancing said carrying member step by step for advancing succeedingbroken areas into the -path of said knife, and means associated with theadvancing means for said carryingmember for reciprocating said knifewhen A- contact with the periphery of said carrying memtween twoadjacent pins is located beneath said ber for adhesively connecting thetape thereto, said carrying member provided with a plurality of radiallyextending slots spaced circumferentially around said carrying memberwhereby said tapeis supported on said carrying memberat spacedintervals, a shearing member pivoted adjacent the periphery of saidcarrying member 'and adapted to move across the periphery of said memberand into said slots to cut the tape supported thereon, and means foradvancing said carrying member step by step whereby the same is adaptedto kbe stopped after each advance with 2,.398,360 one of said slots inthe path of said shearing member.v y

10. A tape dispenser for sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a roll i oi' said tape, a rotatable disc. alplurality of pins extending axially from one face of said disc, andspaced from one vanother 'circumferentially of vsaid disc, means fordirecting said tape into adhesive contact with said pins in strip formwhereby said tape is adhesivelyconnected at spaced intervals to saidpins to pull said ta-pe from said been advanced a full step, said meansincluding said feeding'member.

13. A tape dispenser for sticky surfaced tapecomprising, means forrotatably supporting a roll of said tape..a rotatable disc, a pluralityof pins extending axially from one face of said disc, and spaced fromone another circumferentially of said disc, means for continuouslydirecting said tape roll and carry it in strip form, a knife pivotallymounted adjacent the periphery of said disc and adapted to swingradially of said disc and across the path of the'tape adhesivelyconnected to said pins to cut said tape, means for rotating said discstep by step whereby in a position of rest the disc is stopped with thespace between two of said pins in the path of said knife, and means forreciprocating said knife to cut said tape.

11. A tape dispenserfor sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a roll of said tape, a rotatable disc, a pluralityof pins extending axially from one face of said disc, and

from said roll into adhesive contact with successive ones of said pinswhereby the tape is adhesively connected to said pins at spacedintervals and pulled from said roll in strip form, a knife pivotallymounted adjacent the periphery of said disc and adapted to swingradially of said disc and across the path of the tape adhesivelyconnected to said pins to cut said tape, means for rotating said discstep by step whereby in a po,-

sition of. rest the .disc is stopped with the space between two of saidpins in the path `of said knife, said means including a pivoted feedingmember, a plurality of studs extending axially from the other face ofsaid disc and spaced from one another circumferentially of saiddisc, a

ratchet-type pawl pi-voted to said feeding member and normally movedinto the path of said studs, said pawl adapted to positively engage -oneof said studs when moved in one direction by said feeding member, andadapted to pass over a succeeding stud when moved in the oppositedirection, and means for reciprocating said knife to cut said tape when,and only when, said disc has been advanced a full step, said meansincluding a lever connecting said feeding member face of said`disc andspaced from one another circumferentlally of said disc, a reciprocalratch- `ettype pawl adapted to positively engage one of said studs whenmoved in one direction to advance said disc, and adapted to pass overthe succeeding stud when moved in the opposite direction, the stroke ofsaid pawl adapted to ad'- vance said disc whereby any two adjacent pinson said disc are located on opposite sides of the Y path of said knifewhen in a position of rest, and

means for reciprocating said knife to cut said tape when, and only when,said disc is in a position of rest after being advanced a complete step.

12. A tape dispenser for sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting aroll of said tape, a rotatable disc, a pluralityof pins extending axially from one face of said disc, and

l spaced from one another circumferentially of said disc, means forcontinuously directing said tape from said roll into adhesive contactwith successive ones -of said pins whereby the tape is adhesivelyconnected to said pins at spaced intervals and pulled from said roll instrip form, al

knife pivotally mounted adjacent the periphery vof said disc and adaptedto swing radially oi' said disc and across the path lof the tapeadhesively connected to said pins to cut said tape, means position, aspring connecting said knife and said I and knife whereby said knife isad-apted to be moved to its raised position by said feeding member whenthe latter is moved. to its inoperative feeding member whereby movementof said feedi ing member in a direction to ,advance said disc forrotating said disc step by step whereby in a ber and normally moved intothe path of said pins, said pawl adapted to positively engage one ofsaid pins when moved in one direction by said ceeding pin -when moved inthe opposite direction, and means for reciprocating said knife to cutsaid tape when, and only when, said disc has 75 tends to move said knifetoward its cutting positionjstop means associated with said disc adaptedto engage and hold said knife against operation during movement of saiddisc, whereby said knife is adapted to be placed under tension byoperation of said feeding member, said stop means adapted to be removedfrom the path of said knife when said disc has'been advanced a completestep, whereby said knife is moved to cutting position by said springmember.

14. A tape dispenserl for sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting'a roll Aof said tape, a rotatable disc, a pluralityof pins extending axially from one face-of said disc, and spaced fromone another circumferentially of said disc, means for continuouslydirecting said tape from said roll into adhesive contact with'successive ones oi.' said pins whereby the tape is adhesively connectedto said pins at spaced intervals and pulled from said roll in stripform,

said disc provided with a plurality of slots extending radially from theperiphery thereof and spaced cincumferentially of said disc whereby oneslot is located between each pair of adjacent pins, -a knife pivotallymounted adjacent the periphery of said 'disc and adapted to swingradially of said disc and across' the path of the tape adhesivelyconnected to said pins to cut said tape, a portion onsaid knife adaptedto engage the periphery of said disc to hold said knife againstactuation, and adapted to pass into said slots to permit actuation ofsaid knife, neans for advancing said disc step by step tojfeed said tapecarried thereby past said knife, means connecting said knife and' saiddisc feeding means whereby said knife is adapted to be positively heldin its inoperative position until said disc has been advanced asufficient amount to remove one of said slots from the path of saidportion on the knife after which said knife is released and placed undertension by further operation of said I disc feeding means.

15. A tape dispenser for a sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of sticky surfaced tape, a shearingmember, and means for pulling said tape from said roll in a strip andcarrying said tape in strip form past said shearing member where it isadapted to be cut into short lengths, and adapted tol deliver said shortlengths to a position remote from the shearing member for removal fromthe dispenser. said means including a movable feeding member having aplurality of spaced tape supporting surfaces, and means for directingsaid tape toward saidy member so that the sticky surface thereof ispressed into adhesive contact with `said supporting surfaces whereby theadhesion between the tape and said supporting surfaces in combinationwith the movement of said supporting surfaces serves to pull the tapefrom said roll, support it during the shearing operation,

and deliver the cut lengths toV a position for removal from thedispenser.

16. A tape dispenser for a sticky surfaced tape comprising, means forrotatably supporting a supply roll of tape, a shearing member, means forpulling said tape in strip form from said roll and adapted to feed thesame beneath said shearing member, said means including a rotatablefeeding wheel having its axis of rotation parallel to the shearing edgeof said shearing member.

spaced Vtape engaging members on said 'wheel adapted to engage thesticky surface oi' said tape at spaced intervals with sufficientadhesion to pull the tape from said supply roll and feed the samebeneath said shearing member, means for directing the tape toward saidspaced members and into adhesive contact therewith. and including amember adapted to hold that portion of the tape approaching the shearingmember on said members during the' shearing operation, and means forintermittently rotating said feeding wheel whereby a given length oftape supported by said spaced members is moved past and beneath saidshearing member. A

HAROLD L. FITCH.

